Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-22
THE REICEISTiG.
Tie Debate on the Ecciesiasticai
Bill Continued.

Copyrighted by Now York Associated Pres.
1871
BERLIN, April 21.-The debate on
the ecclesiastical bill was begun in the
lower house of the PrusSian Diet to-day.
Windthorst Clerical leader declared
that the Centre party would submit to
the Pope's wishes and would vote for
the bill as it passed the upper house,
and without Offering any of the amend
ments which the Centre had intended
TO propose as necessary to make the bill
entirely acceptable to the Catholics Of
Germany. The Centre party, Wind
thorst added. would renew the fight
against the Government if at any time
the Catholic interests we're affected.
Bismarck declared that if the bill was
rejected he would abandon his Office as
president OF the Ministry OF State for
Prussia and devote his entire time to the
service of the empire. Gas perhaps, "
he said, "a hard external and internal
struggle against the revolutionary party
is imminent, desire first 10 settle all
unnecessary internal disputes"
Richter condemned the bill because.
he said, the provisions REGARDING the
right of confirmation and protest by
the State in ecclesiastical appointments
would promote seryility. He protested
against the action of the Pope i'll in-
terfering in elections for membership
in the Reicbstag.
bismarck declared that Richter was
more Catholic than the Pope, and added:
cit must be admitted that in the eyes
of the German Catholics the Papacy IS
no foreign institution. The result OF
the elections would have been the same
with or without the opposition of the
Ceutcrists. The result of the elections
was not the outcome of anxiety, but an
expression of evaporation at the att
tude of the opposition under Rich
ter. The point at issue was not
to combat political group, but
to secure the preservation of the en-
pire from injury, and that | desired to
form majority for myself was quite
natural. Allthe national parties should
endeayor to meet the curiG as far as 1t
was compatible with State rights. This
is feasible 10y adopting the present bill
as il has passed the Oberhaus The
notifications will increase the Govern
ment's arduous task in all the phases OF
the Kulturkampf. ] acted in accord
ance with my political convictions
The bill comedies nothing that will en-
danger the States authority"
Bismarck then appealed to the mem
bers of the national parties not to re-
iect the bill. The moment was Ia
yorable for the conclusion of peace IN
the religious war that had SO long been
wsged in Germany. He declared that
considerable portion Of his influence
in Europe rested on the confidence
manifested in his political honesty and
tlustworthiness by the representatives
of the German people.
Virchow opposed the bill as mea-
sure tending to strengthen the Pope
hieIarchical power.
Bismarck, in reply to this, observed
that Virchow opposed him as matter
of principle on all great questions;
Il never" said the Prince, described
the MAY laws as final institution, but
always as laws Of combat, as is now the
case with the anti-Socialist law. L have
solely striyen to satisfy the lovers OF
peace among the Catholics. | never
aimed TO keep a portion of my fellow
citizens under permanent pressure.
Won Gerlach expressed approval OF
the bill, coupled with wish that great
or independence might be granted the
Evangelical Church. -,
The debate was then adjourned until